This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Local Football Tradition Now Has a Kennedy Connection

Former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy joined his new family's 50-year-old Slow Motion Football tradition.

There is something to be said about traditions that bring families—some old and some newer members—together.

This year's , now in its 50th year, was one example of that old adage. It brought together three generations of the Savell family, including one new son-in-law with ties to the Kennedy clan, and two sets of brothers—John and Jake Glassey and Frank and Joe Mazzone.

"I love that tradition like this brings everyone together especially on New Year's Day," former Rhode Island Congressman , who recently married Absecon teacher Amy Petitgout, said Sunday. "It reminds us what (tradition) is about."

Find out what's happening in Gallowaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It's not a tradition that his own family necessarily does each New Year's Day, but it is one that his wife Amy's family is quite familiar with. Petitgout's father, Jerry Savell, a former Atlantic County freeholder and councilman in Pleasantville and Absecon, respectively, is one of several county residents who have been playing slow motion football since the 1960s.

His two sons, Paul and Chris, now also play along with both of their children. One year, one of their sons was used in a couple of plays instead of the actual football.

Find out what's happening in Gallowaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nonetheless, despite the three generations of Savells -- and now a new son in-law- Savell is not the sole person responsible for coming up with the event.

West Atlantic City resident Jake Glassey said that Savell, along with his brother John, got the idea from him and four other members of the 1962 Pleasantville High School football team. The elder Glassey, along with Steve Anthony, Butch Sill and one other player were playing football in slow motion during a practice for the big Thanksgiving game when their coach spotted them.

"He threatened to bench us," Glassey said, adding that his brother and Savell, who were two years behind him in school, witnessed what transpired. "They're the ones who brought it here (to Absecon)" and were doing it for fun while ‘we did it for real.’"

The game is still played—with every pass, touchdown, etc.—done in slow motion. The only thing that’s changed is some of the players. Even though there are several players who come most years, or every other, depending on their schedules, others wait decades to make a triumphant return.

It had been years since Glassey played in the annual event; however, even with some health issues and the use of a cane, nothing kept him from playing in this year's event, including preventing two touchdowns for the opposing team.

First, he blocked a pass which prompted younger brother John to chastise him for blocking a young girl from scoring. All he had to do was bat the pigskin away with his hand.

Then, he tackled a local reporter who was brought in for one player. He tapped her after she successfully caught a pass thrown by Absecon Mayor Pete Elco.

"This is for all of the years of bad (media) coverage," he joked.

Glassey served many years on the Egg Harbor Township Committee and Egg Harbor Township Board of Education. He is also a retired Pleasantville police officer.

Savell's team won, 31-24. Special recognitions also went out to rookies of the year—Kennedy and a few of the kids who played their first time this year—and to two local reporters who were named most valuable players. Both were brought in for one or more plays.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?